1 EXPLORESURPRISE.COM SURPRISE OFFICIAL GUIDE TO ARIZONA 2 EXPLORESURPRISE.COM Surprise is a vibrant and growing city with nearly 150,000 residents; yet we stay true to our foundational strengths of providing a clean, safe and friendly community. Our award-winning Surprise Recreation Campus hosts festivals, special events and a variety of leisure, arts, cultural and sports-related activities, including Spring Training at Surprise Stadium. Just down the street from the stadium, you will find the Surprise Tennis and Racquet Complex, one of the premier municipal tennis complexes in the country featuring 25 tennis courts, in addition to indoor racquetball and outdoor pickleball courts. Our aquatics center and five-acre urban fishing lake attract visitors time and time again. Surprise is also the proud home of Ottawa University, offering an exceptional educational experience and more than 20 collegiate sports programs. Go Spirit! Nearby you can enjoy hiking or biking the White Tank Mountains. This Sonoran Desert park features trails ranging from easy to strenuous, and overnight camping under clear Arizona skies is a great way to enjoy the largest county-owned park in the United States. The nearby Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium is also a popular year-round destination. Of course all of this activity will work up your appetite. Good news, as we have some amazing restaurants in town! From burgers and craft beer; to wine and signature cuisine, you’ll find the perfect taste in Surprise. Our exceptional community amenities, retail and entertainment options, beautiful weather and Southwestern lifestyle, are why we love Surprise and know you will too! Be sure to Find Your Surprise at ExploreSurprise.com. Welcome to you’re in for a real treat! If you are a new visitor to the city, SURPRISE MAYOR SKIP HALL3 EXPLORESURPRISE.COM 05 06 08 10 12 14 17 18 20 22 23 24 26 Welcome Surprise Recreation Complex Explore the Outdoors Indoor Fun Top Local Eats Early Morning Bites & Late Night Delights Shopping Arts & Cultural Experiences Ottawa University Nearby Attractions Explore Arizona Events & Happenings Hotels featuresSurprise, Arizona is a place to find your fun hiking the beautiful White Tank Mountains, playing one of our pristine golf courses or enjoying our award- winning signature cuisine. With blogs, itineraries, events and more, we’ll help you “Find Your Surprise” at ExploreSurprise.com5 EXPLORESURPRISE.COM starts here. The adventure Surprise welcomes you to our friendly Sonoran Desert community with sunny weather and breathtaking sunsets. We’ve put this guide together with you in mind, highlighting the best of Surprise. Find your adventure enjoying our lush golf courses and scenic hiking trails. Find your gathering place visiting our local favorite restaurants and lively happy hour spots. Find your inspiration taking in our public art pieces and cultural experiences. Turn the pages, choose your adventure and get ready to find your Surprise! 6 EXPLORESURPRISE.COM Discover fresh, open-air venues with dynamic mountain views that will exceed your expectations. The nationally acclaimed Surprise Recreation Campus offers over 200 acres of recreational space, including a Major League Baseball Spring Training stadium. Here’s a look at all the fun you can find within the campus. at its finest! Surprise Stadium 15850 N Bullard Ave Surprise Stadium is ranked the #1 AZ Spring Training Stadium in the Cactus League by USA Today and the “Best Place to Watch a Spring Training Game” by Best of Phoenix! Home to Major League Baseball’s Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals, the stadium also topped USA Today’s list of all 23 Arizona and Florida spring training facilities in the categories of facility and fan-experience. It’s no surprise that fans love our Spring Training experience. With unique game viewing options, family entertainment, mouthwatering foodie favorites and craft brews, it’s a place to find your fun! For information about upcoming games, tickets and special events, visit SurpriseStadium.com. The City hosts national and international tennis and baseball tournaments, community events and festivals at many of these venues for all to enjoy! Check out what’s happening in Surprise at exploresurprise.com/Events. For more information on each of the venues listed, visit exploresurprise.com/Play.7 EXPLORESURPRISE.COM Surprise Tennis & Racquet Complex 14469 W Paradise Ln Tennis fans will enjoy the Tennis and Racquet Complex, comprised of 25 lighted courts, including two championship courts, two racquetball courts, a clubhouse and event space. As a recipient of the United States Tennis Association “Facility of the Year” award, it’s one of the top tennis tournament venues in the southwest. The complex is open seven days a week; hours vary seasonally. Pickleball Complex 14534 W Tierra Buena Ln Enjoy a game of this fast-growing sport at our 16-court lighted complex within Surprise Community Park. It’s a great destination for pickleball enthusiasts or anyone wanting to learn this fun game that combines elements of badminton, tennis and table tennis! Surprise Aquatic Center 15960 N Bullard Ave Wanna make a splash? Bring the family to the Surprise Aquatic Center, which includes a vortex whirlpool, competition pool, diving well, two slides and a zero depth area with water play features for children. Open swim is available on select days of the week from late May - September. Community Park 15953 N Bullard Ave This beautiful park features a playground; basketball, pickleball and sand volleyball courts; dog park; and fishing at the five-acre Urban Fishing Lake. Surprise Community Park also offers ramadas, picnic tables and BBQs for enjoying an outdoor meal. It’s a great place for the whole family to get outdoors and enjoy the sunshine!8 EXPLORESURPRISE.COM more outdoors There are a couple more outdoor opportunities you should not miss when you visit Surprise. From our beautiful scenic mountain range to the lush desert oasis created by our world-class golf course, these are some fantastic reasons to get out and explore! White Tank Mountain Regional Park is nearly 30,000 acres and provides endless options to fit every age, experience level and ability. There are approximately 30 miles of hiking trails at the park that offer breathtaking views of the mountains and panoramas of the valley below. This includes two short trails with no barriers that are paved and handicap accessible. The longest trail at the park is about eight miles and the shortest is just under a mile long. This includes the waterfall, which leads to Petroglyph Plaza. The park is open daily from 6 a.m. - 8 p.m. So go ahead and grab a bottle of water, or two, and lace up your walking shoes. There is no better way to experience the joy of the desert than to get out and take a hike! 20304 W White Tank Mountain Rd 602.506.2930 ext. 5 Why are they called the White Tank Mountains? While infrequent, we do get heavy rains here that can cause torrential flows. This rain flow then pours down chutes and drops off ledges scouring out a series of depressions, or tanks, in the white granite rock. This nature made design and coloration provides the mountains their name.9 EXPLORESURPRISE.COM Sterling Grove Golf Course sterlinggroveclub.com/golf The newest golf experience in Surprise, this world- class Nicklaus Design course offers a departure from the traditional desert setting with lush fairways cut through farm groves. This par-72 course combines rolling greens and tree-lined fairways to offer an exceptional experience. 11440 N Greenwich Blvd I 623.213.7000 TOP SPOTS TO TEE OFF Here are some amazing golf courses Surprise has to offer: Sun Village This great little course has been named “Best of Surprise” for a decade. 17300 N Sun Village Pkwy | 623.584.5774 Great Eagle Rated one of the most affordable championship golf courses in the state. 17091 N Happy Trails Blvd | 623.584.6000 Granite Falls You can choose between two challenging 36-hole championship golf courses. 15949 W Clearview Blvd | 623.546.7575 Desert Springs This 7,006-yard course has over 75 bunkers and numerous lakes. 19900 N Remington Dr | 623.546.7401 Coyote Lakes A fun to play 4-star Golf Digest-rated course loaded with amenities. 18800 N Coyote Lakes Pkwy | 623.566.2323 Cimarron Offering the challenge of water off the tee and around the green on most holes. 17100 W Clearview Blvd | 623.975.5654 Arizona Traditions Called the “best kept secret in Surprise,” this course is sure to fulfill a golfer’s passion for the game. 17225 N Citrus Rd | 623.584.4000 Granite FallsNext >